Father of the year, he's not.
But he is escaping serious jail time.
The Greenfield, Calif. man who accused of selling his 14-year-old daughter into marriage in exchange for $16,000, beer and meat has pleaded no contest to felony child endangerment.
Marcelino de Jesus Martinez had originally pleaded not guilty in February to procuring a child for lewd acts, aiding and abetting statutory rape and child endangerment. If he had gone to trial would have faced 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors said Martinez and the family of groom Margarito de Jesus Galindo in January negotiated a marriage and dowry contract, which included $16,000 and 100 cases of beer, along with several cases of meat and other items.
Galindo, 18, and the girl allegedly lived together for week, then Martinez called the cops to get his daughter back -- because payment wasn't made.
Police returned the girl home and arrested her father.
U.S. & World
Monday's plea means the 36-year-old father will be sentenced May 7 to up to a year in jail, followed by deportation.
